The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-02
LIKE THE FALL OF THE MAMMA
The Shower of Quails for the Morrnons
and It's Probable Explanation.
From The Mean YORK. lS1l,,.


From the Ne'1 York S,I,s.
SALT LAKE, April l0.--The stories about
quail which are coming from Nevada have
suggested to an old settler here an explana-
ton of a phenomenon which has all along
been cited as an evidence of the favor in
which the Mormons who made the journey
across the plains with Brigham We're held
by the Almighty The Mormon teachers
maintain that the experience of the faithful
on that well-known pilgrimage was more
marvellous than anything that occurred to
the children of Israel when they wandered
in the wilderness under the leadership of
Moses. By Christians it is generally ad-
mitted that the lsraeliteS were under the
guidance of the Lord; that they were fed
from heaven; that water gushed from the
rock to satisfy their thirst, and that but for
superhuman assistance they never would
have passed safely into the promised land.
Yet the IsraelteS We're forty years in cross
ing a wilderness not so extensive and GER
tainly not more dangerous than the wilder
ness which the Mormons crossed in a few
months. To all Mormons in this vicinity
the story of their forefathers' pilgrimage is
as attractive as the Mosaic hegira was to
the ancient Hebrews; it is regarded by all
OF them as a more certain Illustration of
Gods favor, and by many of them the mir
acles which are said to have been performed
for the benefit of Brigham's followers are
looked upon as more wonderful than any
thing that took place in the days of Moses.
The only one of these supernatural stories
to which it is now necessary to refer is that
which relates how the Brighamites were
fed when starvation seemed to be staring
them in the face.
81 have investigated that story" the
Sans informant observed, land / am
bound to believe that some such incident
actually occurred. You cannot question
the evidence of score of men and women
who, whatever their peculiarities may have
been, We're not known as liars. Their word
was good Some of them were not polyga-
mists According to the narrative as | got
it, the Mormon caravan had run out of
meat of every description, and though
there was still some food on hand, it was
seen that unless a more fruitful country
was soon reached all must perish of hunger.
The wilderness yielded absolutely nothing.
There was no game The water was unfit
to drink. Hostile Indians swarmed on all
sides of them, and as day followed day and
the prospect became blacker and blacker
it was decided that on a certain day the
caravan should halt and pray to Almighty
God for relief
when that day dawned the wagons and
horses were left as they had been placed the
night before in circle, and the pilgrims
assembled in the central space and prayed
fervently, both publicly and in silence, for
deliverance. Not morsel of food passed
the mouth of any person, and from what |
can learn more solemn fast and supplica-
ton never occurred in this world. For six
or seven hours the services lasted. The sky
had been cloudleSs during the forenoon, and
in the afternoon only q few white flakes
stood in the broad expanse of blue. Soon
after o'clock breeze sprang up, which
gradually increased to gale, and little
later the watchers, who hailed the first
change in the atmospheric conditions as
signs of a providential response, saw far
away on the horizon what appeared to be a
black cloud. As it grew in size all stood
watching it intently until, amid the shouts
and hulleluja abs of the faithful, thousands of
quail, borne on the wind and dashed with
violence against the covered wagons, fell
exhausted or dead to the ground. The air
was black with them for a few minutes and
so terrifying was the experience that men
and women tainted or went wild with joy.
After little, such of the flock as had
escaped the wagons disappeared, and the
men and women who retained their pres
ence of mind began gathering the birds
which had come to them 50 strangely.
While they were engaged in this work and
were rejoicing over their good fortune it
grew suddenly dark, and before the last
bird had been picked up rain began to fall
in copious showers. The stock was greatly
refreshed, and much water was caught in
utensils which were made ready for the
purpose. These strange events had a pro-
found effect upon everybody, strengthening
the faith Of the wavering and imbuing all
with the conviction that they were indeed
the chosen of the Lord. After a day of
Thanksgiving the caravan moved on, and in
a short time it came to fertile valleys and
running water, the last Of the birds not
being consumed until other game was found
in plenty.
"Now, since have read of the quail
storms that they have in Nevada, | have
come to the conclusion that this was one of
them, and that the only remarkable thing
about the matter was that it should have
occurred Just as it did OF course to the
Brighamites it was a miracle. They had
never had such an experience before, and |
don't know as you can wonder much at
their belief concerning it, but just such
things are happening here in the West
almost every year. The quail lose their
way or they are driven by storms in direc-
tions contrary to those which they in
stinctively seek, and when exhausted, or if
they come in contact with any obstruction,
they fall TO the ground. Many Of them are
dead, but if alive they may be easily caught.
Quail is plenty this year, and you will hear
OF it raining birds before long"